She Wolf

Born: Alice-Joyce Gallager. But it's A.J. Adams. 16. Greaser. The ones that stay are the ones I love the most.

[theblogcold]

[underestimated-littleone]

cain--adams:

“Hey, you’re still a teen for three more years. Anything can happen at seventeen. That’s the beauty of it. You’ll definitely get more privileges at the house. Get to stay out later and such.” Cain grinned over at his sister. Over the past few years, he’s seen so many positive changes in AJ that truly made him proud. She was definitely growing up right in front of his eyes. It seems like just yesterday when he would call her ‘squirt’ and she’d practically punch him in the face over it. Cain laughed a little at her comment. “We’re already old.” He hunched his back over and grabbed an umbrella that was for sale to use it as a cane. Finally he curled his lips to cover his teeth as if he didn’t have any. “Don’t let me forget my Poly Grip!” He yelled out, not caring who saw or heard him. Cain would do just about anything to make his friends and family laugh and smile. He straightened up and put the umbrella away. “Here, I can pay for that stuff.” He placed his items in front of the cashier.

“Get to stay out n do what?” She looked at him seriously. Sure she liked to let loose and drink and occasionally smoke when she needed the release, but it’s like she wasn’t seeing the point anymore. She had all these goals and ambitions now. She saw a life after Tulsa and though it made her sad to leave the people she loves, she knew she’d come back. AJ just knew there was something more for her. Maybe something more than a family. AJ suddenly started laughing and her face broke the stone coldness it usually held naturally. She pushed him as they were in line. She shrugged and let him pay. She was saving her money anyway.

[pandemonia17]

[alli-star-blog]

Good afternoon, Tulsa! What’s everyone up to this Saturday?

[underestimated-littleone]

Swimming in a pool of nothing. I’m actually thinking about going to the library and studying before school starts because I’m that bored. 

[underestimated-littleone]

How the hell am I supposed to do this? AJ wasn’t having a hard time figuring out how she wanted to get this out into the world, but the words. Nice thoughts about herself were just so hard to think of right off the top of her head. Tell her to write a 10 page essay on the people she loves would be her whole head. She tapped the photograph of Tulsa from a rooftop on her leg. Finally something came to her.

1. I’d have to say I’m a pretty loving person. I love the animals on the farm, I love my family, and I love my mom..

2. I’m stubborn. I see it as a good thing. It’s what motivates me. And when you only have yourself for awhile, it’s what gets you to the next day.

3. I’m pretty good at drawing and taking pictures. I took the one you’re holding.

4. I’m pretty damn funny. 

5. I have great hair. And I’m proud to say I look good as a brunette and a blonde.

This is a letter to whoever reads it. These are five nice things about myself. Not gonna lie, they were pretty hard. But I want you to do the same. And however you do it, just tell someone. Tell someone and challenge them to do the same.

She smiled and put the picture on a cork board in the diner she sat in. She started to walk away before stopping and smiling again. She went back and wrote:

P.S. Here’s a bonus one. I’m a pretty damn awesome Greaser. 

[underestimated-littleone]

cain–adams:

“No way, 17 is the best.” Cain was 17 years old when he fell in love with Hailey. In his opinion it was the greatest year of his life because it was when everything changed for him for the better. “Trust me, enjoy your teens while you can.” Being an adult was never really something Cain looked forward to when he was younger. He loved being a kid and being able to basically do whatever he wanted. But having a family was worth everything that came along with growing up. “Again, I know what I’m talkin’ about when I say we’d both love the extra hands. Babies cry for just about everything, AJ. Don’t sweat it so much.” He made sure he had everything he needed before turning to his sister again. “I’m your big brother, of course I have faith in you.” Cain nudged AJ, grinning at her. “But if you really don’t wanna do it, I won’t force ya. Just know that I trust you with the most important people in my life.”

AJ has, and she figures she always will, want to be older. She used to think being older meant everyone would take her more seriously. What she didn’t realize until the last couple months, was that the people that mattered already did take her seriously. They just loved her enough to protect her, even if she felt like she didn’t need protecting and they did. Now she just wants to be older to start a different life. Maybe try more school or travel. Get out of Tulsa for awhile and come back. “Ya do realize I’m almost not a teen anymore? What do you think is really going to happen to be at 17 that will make it so spectacular?” She shook her head. 16 felt so sweet and 18 meant she could do more things. 17 was just so stuck in the middle. “Fine. But y’ll will have to teach me how to make their bottles. I’ve only had a little bit of experience with babies and one thing I know is that bottles are always made differently.” She smiled up at his big grin. He’s always been a big brother to her, so none of this was weird or unnatural at all. She was just filling a spot where she belonged. “Don’t worry, I’ll take care of Hailey and you when you’re old too.” 

[tierdropp]

[cain--adams]

“Actually, I think he did lick her.” Cain laughed at the memory. It seemed so long ago now that they were married with three kids. He glanced back at AJ. “Don’t worry, we’ll figure something out crazy for us to do before summer is over. You’re only 16 once.” They arrived at the store and he moved inside and headed for the baby aisle. “You think you have a crazy sleep pattern? Hails and I are up all hours of the night between the girls and Dodger. Hailey deserves a fuckin’ award for all she does.” His wife truly amazed him. “I know she’d love a hand if you do stay over. Even just rocking a baby back to sleep would be really helpful and appreciated.” 

[underestimated-littleone]

AJ laughed. Mustache liked to nudge her for his food but that’s about it. Maybe it was a perfume thing (which AJ didn’t wear). “I hope so. I feel like 17 is going to be boring. Can I just skip to 18?” She smiled and did her puppy dog eyes as if Cain had any say in the matter of how old she turns.  When they got into the store she went to the aisle with the camera film and somewhat yelled to him. “Don’t guilt trip me now. I love Hailey, but she might hate me if I end up only making em cry more. She grabbed what she needed and headed back to her brother. “Cain, you haven’t even seen me with a kid. Why do you have so much faith in me?” 

[cain--adams]

Cain scoffed at his sister, looking playfully hurt by her comment. “I would not use it against you! Hailey’s favorite is Mustache. They go way back.” He smiled thinking back to when Hailey visited the farm for the first time, back before they were even dating. Cain nodded along with AJ. “Yeah, ya know what? That does sound fun. I’ll see how Hails feels about it. I don’t know if the girls are ready to be out in the world yet and if they aren’t Hailey won’t leave them.” He really didn’t like to leave his family more than he needed to either. “But you oughta stay over at the house for a few days. You’d get a break from the house and the farm.”

[underestimated-littleone]

“Still not telling you.” She smirked. “Way back, huh? Did he lick her or something?” She raised an eyebrow, but was joking. “Good. I get it. If Hailey can’t then we can always do something later in the month. I’m not sure what y’ll can do with having babies and all.” AJ didn’t want to act like their lives were over and everything, but they had bigger responsibilities now and were growing up. She didn’t like it. She wanted to always be on the same level as the rest of the gang and they were all reaching steps in their lives she didn’t want to reach. “Maybe I will. One night or something. I don’t really want to skip out of my responsibilities. Plus I’d wake up before dawn anyway. My sleep pattern is even crazier these days.” AJ was starting to get up before the rooster.  

[cain--adams]

Cain had a hard time imagining his little girls as little women doing such things as painting their nails or doing their hair. Thank god they had Hailey and all their aunts (plus Jeremy) to help them with all that. AJ acted like she wasn’t a kid person but he knew his kids would win her over soon enough. His grin stayed on his face as she talked about the family farm. He actually missed yardwork and spending time with the animals. “It ain’t so bad. Who’s your favorite? And don’t say you don’t have a favorite pet because I know ya do.” 

[underestimated-littleone]

“Ya know what, it actually aint that bad. I just need somethin to do other than it. It’s the same every week.” She smiled for a moment. “I do have a favorite, but I have uh feelin you might use that against me.” AJ walked ahead of him and started to walk backwards. “But the main point is that this is summer! I want to do something crazy....granted it won’t get me in trouble. I miss everyone. We should do something. Kid friendly or not. Maybe bowling.” 

[cain--adams]

“I figured blue would look nicer with my eyes.” Cain easily joked with AJ, grinning. It had been a while since they’d talked with him being so busy with work and now the twins. “We got a ton of the cloth ones and I’m off to buy more. It’s always good to have backup when we’re doing a wash. S’crazy how much a tiny little baby can poop and then you multiply that by three and it’s none stop pooping.” Cain cackled, looking too happy for a guy talking about baby poop. “How’s summer break treating you? S’not much of a break when you live on a farm, though is it? Yep, been there, done that my whole life.”

[underestimated-littleone]

“Blue’s more of your girls’ color. Eventually you can teach them how to paint their nails.” AJ might’ve been a bit more serious than she intended to be. She was a daddy’s girl, so if her dad taught her to paint her nails, she might’ve actually done it. She had a feeling his kids might be the same. Or they’d at least be fascinated by the family they’ve created through friends. AJ couldn’t have felt more grateful. Her heart warmed at the thought of it and she used to feel so cold. “Remind me to never help with your laundry. You don’t have to remind me that I don’t ever want to babysit.... not that you should get any ideas, because I’m certified to not be around children under the age of 10.” She looked at him seriously. “Summer break?” She laughed. “I barely get off the farm. When I’m done with yardwork, feeding and bathing the animals, and picking up shit, I take a shower and sleep. School actually sounds nice right about now.” 

[carmen-dodger]

I’m a planet

It’s official

[underestimated-littleone]

Quick, somebody get the news to the newspapers. 

[cain--adams]

Cain nodded and started to head in the direction of the store. “I’m on my way there too. I also need nail polish.” He playfully stuck his tongue out at his sister. “I’m on yet another diaper run.” It was weird to have three kids now in diapers. They were practically being buried by them. “How’s everything going at the house?”

[underestimated-littleone]

“I hope they have pink. It’ll look best with your complexion.” She smirked at him. “You might as well buy ‘em those cloth diaper things and just get ‘em washed or buy a bunch of ‘em.” She said it like she was a mother herself or had even babysat a child. “Good I’d say. Nothin out of the ordinary.” 

[cain--adams]

“Hey, sis.” Cain gave a little wave, looking both more tired and happy than he’s ever looked. “Where ya headed?”

[underestimated-littleone]

“I’m going to get some film for the camera.. and a new paintbrush. Maybe some nail polish. You comin?” 

[underestimated-littleone]

“I mean, go ahead. With how this town is lately, not sure if you’re going to get much of a reaction.”

[ms-moretz]

[chloeheroo]